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News Sentinel

WMAK -- Knoxville's newest station -- can now be seen in most homes in the Knoxville market. It is a high-power, independent station.

Weeks before the station launched, co-owner Lewis Cosby, who also got affiliates for CBS and WB off the ground in Knoxville, provided answers to some frequently asked questions.

Here's your primer on the station:

On which channels can WMAK be seen?

Channel 7 on Charter and Channel 4 on Comcast.

Do you have to have digital cable to see WMAK?

You do not have to have digital cable. It will be on basic-tier cable (if you subscribe to any level of cable, you will receive WMAK television).

To receive the HDTV signal, you will have to have an HDTV tuner or an HDTV digital cable box just as you would need to receive any other local TV station.

Will WMAK be broadcast on analog channels?

WMAK will be transmitting locally on analog Channel 28 in Knoxville and Channel 22 in Sevierville. These are low-power stations.

What is the programming lineup?

WMAK is an independent television station, meaning it has no network affiliation. Primetime hours are filled with movies like 2002's "Interview with the Assassin." Episodes of "Fear Factor" "Little House on the Prairie," "Becker" and "Cheers" also fill the schedule.

Late-night offerings are syndicated repeats of UPN comedies and paid programming.

Where can I call for more information?

Viewers can call 865-329-8777.

What is WMAK's Web site?

The site www.wmaktv.com is under construction.

Will WMAK be available on Direct TV and Knology?

Yes.

* TOUCHDOWN FOR WVLT: The University of Tennessee-vs.-Alabama game on Saturday drew huge ratings for WVLT, Channel 8, which broadcast it. The event, which started at 3:15 p.m. on the CBS affiliate, garnered a 34.4 rating.

How big is that number? Well, the second-highest-rated show of the entire day was WVLT's postgame show, which attracted a 15.9 rating, less than half the audience that watched the game.

The typical most-watched show of any day in the Knoxville market wrangles a 16 or 17 rating.

* RENEWAL: Comedy Central has announced it has renewed the hit comedy "Reno 911!" for a third season, which is expected to arrive late in 2005. The series, a takeoff on "Cops," co-stars former Farragut resident Ben Garant. He also co-created the series with Tom Lennon and Kerri Kenney-Silver.

Garant recently told me he did not know when "Reno" would return since he is busy working on other projects, such as writing the feature film "Herbie: Fully Loaded," an update of "Herbie the Love Bug."

The second season of "Reno" will be released on DVD in 2005.

Terry Morrow covers television. He may be reached at 865-342- 6445 and Morrow2@ knews.com.